Duke guard Haley Gorecki, center, plays with children during the a basketball clinic hosted by the school’s Center for Autism and Brain Development at the Wilson Recreation Center on Thursday. Jessika Morganjmorgan@newsobserver.com

Duke guard Haley Gorecki, center, plays with children during the a basketball clinic hosted by the school’s Center for Autism and Brain Development at the Wilson Recreation Center on Thursday. Jessika Morganjmorgan@newsobserver.com

The sophomore guard knows someone with autism, so she knew what care to take when her team played basketball with dozens of children on the autistic spectrum disorder.

The event was hosted by the school’s Center for Autism and Brain Development to recognize Autism Awareness Month.

“One of my good friends back home has it, her sister does,” said Gorecki, a Palatine, Ill., native. “She’s awesome. Her name is Jessica, and she loves the sport of basketball. She knows I play here at Duke, so it’s really cool. A girl (here today) already said she can’t wait to play Duke basketball. Being a mentor for them is awesome.”

The Bello brothers’ parents, Joaquin and Claudia, are bilingual, and the boys can understand Spanish but, because of communication barriers brought on by autism, they cannot speak it.

“They are on the side of the spectrum that is mild, but they still have challenges,” Joaquin Bello said of his sons, who both participate in local study groups. “Sometimes they lack social skills when there is more people, so they isolate. They have some repetitive behaviors. For us, (the clinic) is a social event where they will learn social skills.”

He said when one sibling has autism, the next sibling is 20 percent more likely to develop it.

Thursday marked the fourth time Duke’s Center for Autism and Brain Development hosted a clinic; last year, the men’s basketball team was involved.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported one in 68 children has autism in a study released this year.

For Gorecki, her friend Jessica is one of the most enthusiastic people she knows.

McCallie said Thursday was an opportunity to learn more about the disorder.

“Some of our kids have been exposed to children with autism and others have not,” she said of her team. “It will bring us together. Also, too, we’ve finished up our workouts. It’s a great opportunity to relax a little bit, have some fun, celebrate the wonderful game of basketball, but, most importantly, be with these kids … and in the process maybe learn a few things about autism.”

Duke’s Sofia Roma instructs children at the mini hoop during the a basketball clinic hosted by the school’s Center for Autism and Brain Development at the Wilson Recreation Center on Thursday. Jessika Morganjmorgan@newsobserver.com

Duke's Sofia Roma instructs children at the mini hoop during the a basketball clinic hosted by the school's Center for Autism and Brain Development at the Wilson Recreation Center on Thursday. Jessika Morganjmorgan@newsobserver.com

Ally Garber, 12, shoots around during the a basketball clinic hosted by the school's Center for Autism and Brain Development at the Wilson Recreation Center on Thursday. The Duke women's team ran the clinic. Jessika Morganjmorgan@newsobserver.com